The global market for nasogastric (NG) tubes is expected to grow from US$224.6 million in 2016 to about US$257.9 million by 2021, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.81% from 2016-2021. NG intubation is most commonly used for patients who:

• have neck or facial injuries

• have had neck or facial surgery

• need a mechanical ventilator to breathe

• have an intestinal obstruction or blockage

• are comatose

NG tube misplacement may occur during insertion resulting in aspiration pneumonia and even death. In the United States, the rate is 2% annually, resulting in 0.7% or 6,400 lung injuries and 0.3% or 3,600 deaths. The current methods to verify tube placement do not confirm the exact site of tube placement.

TECHNOLOGY

The device ensures correct NG tube placement by leveraging on:

1. an audio feedback that differentiates the placement in the lungs from the gastrointestinal tract based on their distinct acoustic signatures

2. rigidity to optimise steerability in the right location in an otherwise blind insertion.